9 Best Things about Long Distance Relationships ...

1. You Know the Relationship is Special

I think one of the best things about long distance relationships is that they are incredibly meaningful. It takes two special people to commit to each other across time differences and distance! It's rare for anyone to get involved in a long distance relationship just for the sake of it; when you are physically apart from your partner for long periods of time, you must have an incredibly deep connection and care about them so much that distance, while frustrating, doesn't matter. Couples in a long distance relationship are willing to do almost anything for each other!

2. Amazing Communication

Being in a long distance relationship requires a great amount of communication, because all you can do is talk to each other! Couples who aren't together on a regular basis and can only communicate electronically have the incredible conversations; however, written words only make up 7% of what we register from communication. Voice tone, expression, and body language are far more important. I'm in a long distance relationship and there have been many times that my boyfriend and I have misinterpreted each other's language and attitude while text messaging and making phone calls when video chatting isn't an option. I have to try to be as open and understanding as possible to overcome such a frustrating obstacle.

3. Freedom of Being Single

Of course, being in a relationship is one of the most beautiful and satisfying experiences! But sometimes, it's nice to have your own space and not worry about coordinating your schedule around someone else. In a long distance relationship, you have the wonderful comfort of being with someone you love. But you're also able to spend more time with friends, family, or focusing on your goals! My boyfriend and I are both incredibly busy and so supportive of each other's dreams and aspirations! We have the beauty of a healthy, balanced relationship, but also the opportunity to be academically oriented as students in college.

4. Trust

With so much freedom in a long distance relationship, trust is an absolute must! One of the downsides of this kind of relationship is that you won't always know where your partner is, who they are spending time with, or what they are doing. Being far apart and having no mutual friends opens up an incredibly accessible gateway for being unfaithful. This is a thought that passes through every long distance couple's minds! It takes an enormous amount of trust in someone else to believe that they are committed to you, and only you, from so far away.

5. Travelling

One of my personal favorite things about being in a long distance relationship is that I've gotten to travel to so many incredible places! I live near New York City and my boyfriend lives near Memphis. We've both flown to see each other and I got to experience a part of the U.S. I would have probably never traveled to otherwise! If you are in a long distance relationship, it's so fun to travel and have your partner give you a tour of their state or country! This adventurous relationship will make you more cultured, well rounded, and aware of different lifestyles.

6. Making an Effort

Long distance relationships are special because they require a great amount of effort. Planning trips, scheduling times to video chat, and remembering to call everyday takes commitment and dedication. It also requires some creativity! Because my boyfriend and I can't spend time together on a regular basis, we've tried to stay connected and have fun by playing games over video chat, challenging each other to scrabble on our mobile devices, and we even created a Pandora station to share music! A long distance relationship is definitely not the kind that you can or should slack off in!

7. Go Natural

One convenience of being in a long distance relationship as a woman is that you don't have to shave! This makes taking quick showers in the morning a lot easier and you'll save so much time overall by not picking up your razor. Unless the weather is warm or you wear shorts to the gym, you can let your legs get prickly and stubbly if you want. The same goes for your underarms. Who's to see but you?

8. Fun Stories

Couples in a long distance relationship, more often than not, have really great stories and memories to look back on! I love sharing with people the story of how my boyfriend and I met. With long distance relationships, meetings just seem to be caused by fate! Even though these couples can't spend time together on a regular basis, they really make the most of their time by travelling to exciting places, attending cool exhibits, and trying new things! The memories that my boyfriend and I make in the time of a few short weeks are enough to last me an entire year.

9. Appreciating Being Together

Being in a long distance relationship makes you realize just how lucky you are when you finally get to spend time with your sweetheart. Whenever you visit, every single moment counts; from the minute you get off the plane, to the day it's time to go back home. You won't take your partner for granted, and absence really does make the heart grow fonder!

If you ever have the chance to be with someone you're interested in who is far away, don't think that the distance is insurmountable! A long distance relationship might just be one of the most interesting and beautiful experiences that you have. If you are in a long distance relationship, what are some of your favorite pros? Do you have any fun or special stories about how you met your significant other?